Barefoot taliban - feet, work, feed etc

J

JVB

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Apologies for the epic post! I'm hoping cptrayes, oberon et al will all comment and help. So back ground, horse is rising 5 ex racer. Finished racing in Mar 12, had some down time then started hacking and bit of schooling before I bought him in July.

He arrived shod and these came off after about 2 weeks, I tidied them up a little till my trimmer came out which I think was end of Aug time. Sorry I've got no photos for in between that trim and now.

In Dec he was hopping lame on left fore, screamed abcess but had xrays and nothing there at all, all normal so suspected soft tissue damage. I poulticed and then padded foot for about 4 weeks and by 1st Jan he was back to normal.

He had all winter off work, so from beginning of Sept to about 2 weeks ago. Currently being walked (ridden) for about 30 mins each day on various ground, mostly soft mud.

When on good ground walks out well, even wants to trot and canter, definite high jinks. On hard ground still bit toe first/ flat but more he does the more heel first he becomes.

Now I have a good trimmer but she has been teaching me so I know my trims are not perfect yet but there is only so much you can read/ be told before just learning as you go and I am careful to follow her instructions and not take too much off.

Fed (between 2 feeds) 2 scoops speedi beet, 2 scoops alfa a oil, 3 cups linseed, pro hoof. Ad lib haylage 24/7, field is just mud, stabled at night.

I can really only start road work when the evenings get lighter.

So how are they looking, am I doing the right amount of work, is there anything I can change in the feed, I'd like bit more condition on him but he has grown 2 inches over winter so now about 17h so guess all the feed has gone into this, also worried about spring grass as he's sensitive to sugar.

As he arrived
Left fore
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Left hind
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Right fore
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Right hind
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Then after shoes taken off about 2 weeks later
Left fore
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Left hind
WP_000102_zpsa8063671.jpg

Right fore
WP_000100_zps89c4baa7.jpg

Right hind
WP_000101_zps2b2a6c2c.jpg


After first trim, I had tidied them up a little before hand so this trim was done around Aug 12
Left fore
WP_000107_zpsf1ca5c1e.jpg

Left hind
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Right fore
WP_000104_zps2c7b47c4.jpg

Right hind
WP_000105_zps383dafa2.jpg
 
In the absence of the experts, who I'm sure will be along later, I see improvement. I think the diet looks good but Alfalfa can cause some horses to be footy. It doesn't do my girl any favours at all.

Work wise I feel your pain, roll on spring and lighter nights
 
Fantastic angle changes on the hinds as well as the fronts.

Bullnose hinds will probably be cured by being on top of the carbs in his diet, as you already are.

Delamination appears to be linked to high carbs and possibly also to low protein. If the low carb diet does not get rid of the peeling of the outer hoof wall off the inner, try feeding a higher protein food.

Once you can get regular road work into him, you are going to end up with some super feet there.

You lucky devil!!!! Not many of these force-fed-as-babies ex racers grow after you buy them. I'll bet you've got a lovely big boy on top of those feet, and the feet themselves will still be maturing too :-)
 
Good lord, he was going to end up in proper trouble on those fronts if you hadn't stepped in, wasn't he?! Must be soooo satisfying to see the new footypegs.
 
Hi, back now.

So, with more protein what sort of stuff could I feed to add some of that in? Will wait a while to see if shows any changes before doing that...

With the whole toe first bit, should that start to change gradually with more work? Just I know I feel bad making him work when he's landing like that, but if he just needs more work then I'll keep going.

And, yes on the changes - it wasn't until I went through and did this thread and compared them that I realised just how much they have changed.

I suppose without comparing I think they still look like poor feet as my other mare has amazing feet and copes with any ground so compared to her his look pretty bad!

Thanks for replies, all appreciated!
 
Some fab changes visible, keep up the good work :).

Protein-wise I'd hang fire for a while, as the alfalfa should be supplying enough. Linseed is a good source, though.

Boots and pads may make him comfy enough to land heel first, which would really help his progress.
 
JVB said:
So, with more protein what sort of stuff could I feed to add some of that in? Will wait a while to see if shows any changes before doing that...
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Do the carb reduction for 6 months first. Only if that doesn't completely resolve the foot peeling do you need to consider protein levels.

With the whole toe first bit, should that start to change gradually with more work? Just I know I feel bad making him work when he's landing like that, but if he just needs more work then I'll keep going.
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Don't make him do anything he is lame in. If he's sound in walk, walk. Don't stress him until the footfall goes flat or heel first, then you know that he is not causing any more damage.

If he isn't sound in walk ridden, walk him in hand. He should walk even if he is unsound, it's the only reliable way to get him to build up his feet to make him sound. Start small and build up the time.
 
The soft ground will make him more tender as the weather improves so will his fottyness, boots are prob your best option :) Looking heaps better you wonder how they can race with feet like that.
 
Thanks for replies, will keep feed as it is for now and maintain walk work, to be fair to him he rarely is lame unless he's just stood on a stone or something, just doesn't always walk out comfortably.

I did consider boots but can't having boots on encourage them to do too much and not aid concussion? Was reading up Rockley Farm stuff...

And yes he passed 5 stage vetting and totally sound on those feet, wonder how long he would have stayed that way. Find it so interesting how the angle changed when he came out of racing, that ridge has nearly gone now!
 
I wouldn't use boots unless he tells you that he needs them. Too expensive and too much bother! And with feet like that, they probably won't fit in a month or two :)
 
cptrayes said:
I wouldn't use boots unless he tells you that he needs them. Too expensive and too much bother! And with feet like that, they probably won't fit in a month or two :)
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Ah, ok - will keep on as I am then.

And sorry, just one other question, when I'm walking him round the field he's quite keen to trot, even canter up hills, I'm trying to restrain him as ground still quite boggy in places and I'm having to ride in the dark so not ideal when you can't see much... but if he offers a faster pace should I let him if he comfortable doing it?
 
And just if you're interested - this is him as he arrived last year still looking quite racing fit... he looks like a hairy, lanky weed of a horse at the moment who hasn't quite got used to his legs! I hope to God he doesn't grow anymore ( I had wanted a nice compact 16.2 ho hum)

IMG_3185.jpg
 
cptrayes said:
I'LL HAVE HIM!!


17.1?? Just my kind of horse - he's superb!
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Lol, thanks but he is definitely a keeper. I bought him as I'd lost my old ginger TB in the April and I'd always wanted to get one like him but a younger version so when saw this guy felt like fate. He's such a sweetheart too, if this is what exracers can be like then I'm sold!

I suspect you may be right on the height, I'll be keeping close eye on him, what he really needs to do is start growing outwards but I suspect it'll be another couple of years before he finished!

Thanks, and your blog has really helped me by the way!
 
Just a thought my ex-racer reacts badly to Alpha-a and alpha a oil. Her feet go as flat as pancakes and she does get quite sensitive to stones. If I feed her lower levels such as Hifi unmollased she has concavity and stomps over pretty much everything.
 
Angua2 said:
Just a thought my ex-racer reacts badly to Alpha-a and alpha a oil. Her feet go as flat as pancakes and she does get quite sensitive to stones. If I feed her lower levels such as Hifi unmollased she has concavity and stomps over pretty much everything.
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Interesting, I've been using Hifi Lite the last week or so as feed store had run out of alfa a oil so will see if makes any difference, just also need to get the calories into him to keep the weight up... never easy is it?!
 
JVB said:
Interesting, I've been using Hifi Lite the last week or so as feed store had run out of alfa a oil so will see if makes any difference, just also need to get the calories into him to keep the weight up... never easy is it?!
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No it is never easy, it has been a bit of trial and major error but this is what I can get away with feeding my girl
hifi unmollased (she doesn't like plain chopped oat straw!)
economy cubes (and/or baileys no 4 as needed)
unmollased sugarbeet
adlib hay or haylage
veg oil and her vits and mins

there are people on here that think highly of copra for weight gain which I am considering giving a go
 
JVB said:
Lol, thanks but he is definitely a keeper. I bought him as I'd lost my old ginger TB in the April and I'd always wanted to get one like him but a younger version so when saw this guy felt like fate. He's such a sweetheart too, if this is what exracers can be like then I'm sold!

I suspect you may be right on the height, I'll be keeping close eye on him, what he really needs to do is start growing outwards but I suspect it'll be another couple of years before he finished!

Thanks, and your blog has really helped me by the way!
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Look, I really don't think that you are going to manage this on your own :( I think you need to send him to me for a year and I'll get him going for you, deal :D ??

Glad the blog helped.
 
I actually wow'ed out loud!! I'm a complete novice analysing feet but I do try! These were soo interesting esp cos the angle the horse wanted was soo obvious (and obviously different) once the shoes were removed! Plus I seen a ridge (proud of myself) which I think was linked to feeding? (Need to check what the experts said!) still not understanding bullnosed feet but that can be my homework tonight! V interesting pics and wud love to see an update in another while just cos feet fascinate me!
 
googol said:
I actually wow'ed out loud!! I'm a complete novice analysing feet but I do try! These were soo interesting esp cos the angle the horse wanted was soo obvious (and obviously different) once the shoes were removed! Plus I seen a ridge (proud of myself) which I think was linked to feeding? (Need to check what the experts said!) still not understanding bullnosed feet but that can be my homework tonight! V interesting pics and wud love to see an update in another while just cos feet fascinate me!
Click to expand...

Hi, yeah quite a change and yes the ridge you can see if from when he stopped racing so would have had big change in diet and workload. I'll def be taking more pictures over time as just so interesting to compare
 
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